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The Youth Led Leadership Alliance is a network of 7 different leadership groups sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education working together to develop leadership skills and make an impact across their community. All groups meet once a week on Tuesdays in a hybrid format, and once a month on Saturdays in person at either the County Office of Education in Santa Cruz, or the Sequoia High Schools campus in Watsonville.
YLLA Groups
YLLA Groups
These groups include:
Youth for Environmental Action - Students passionate about environmental justice and interested in taking action to address our changing climate.
Youth Artists Taking Action - Youth artists of all disciplines interested in using their art to address social and environmental justice and create societal change.
Youth Empowerment through Technology & Innovation - Youth examining the role of technology in education, promoting ethical and responsible use, and working together to explore innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
Youth Mental Health Leadership Council - Youth driven to break stigmas, promote wellness and increase mental health resources on their campuses.
Multilingual Youth Taking Action - Multilingual students inspired to be future leaders and create a welcoming and supportive environment for peers of all backgrounds.
Queer Student Union - QSU provides Santa Cruz county high school students with the opportunity to explore LGBTQ+ issues, and build their leadership skills through advocacy and service to their local community.
Countywide Black Student Union - Black students interested in building a network of support and solidarity that fights for equity and promotes cultural pride and awareness.
Interested in joining the Alliance? Just fill out a short interest form by clicking on the button below. The only eligibility requirement is to be a student enrolled at any high school within Santa Cruz county—public, private or charter!
For more information, please contact Student Leadership and Engagement Coordinator, Andres Ortiz at anortiz@santacruzcoe.org or 831-466-5713.
To stay up to date please follow us on Instagram at @sccsstudentleadership
We are pleased to announce that the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Student Leadership and Engagement Programs will be starting up again in September for the 2024-25 school year!
YLLA a 2024 Golden Bell Award Winner!
YLLA a 2024 Golden Bell Award Winner!
The California School Board Association has awarded the Youth Led Leadership Alliance with their prestigious Golden Bell Award in the category of Student Engagement and Empowerment for our work during the 2023-24 school year. YLLA will be recognized at the CSBA's Annual Education Conference on December 5th in Anaheim.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to County Superintendent, Dr. Faris Sabbah, our community partners, and all of the group facilitators for all of their support. Most of all, we'd like to thank all of our YLLA students! Your inspirational vision and hard work is what made this possible. The future of leadership in our county is bright!
YLLA Students Lead Workshop at Monthly Meeting
YLLA Students Lead Workshop at Monthly Meeting
YLLA Students, Sylvi and Simon, from the Youth for Environmental Action and Youth Artists Taking Action groups (respectively), lead a workshop bringing together the art forms of poetry and anime at our November monthly meeting. Students had a great time working together and learning from their peers.
YLLA Has Kicked Off for 24/25!
YLLA Has Kicked Off for 24/25!
The Youth Led Leadership Alliance kicked off the 24/25 school year on Saturday, September 21st. Thanks to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, we were able to hold our first meeting of the year at Tyrrell Park. Our students came from 9 different high schools, participated in Coastal Cleanup Day at Seabright Beach and engaged in some fun team building activities. Special thanks to Superintendent Sabbah for starting us off on the right foot with your inspiring words!
Although our meetings have started, you can still join the Alliance at any point in the school year! Interested? Click here to apply!
Highlights from the 23-24 School Year!
Highlights from the 23-24 School Year!
Introducing a New Tech Group - YETI!
Introducing a New Tech Group - YETI!
YETI (Youth Empowerment through Technology & Innovation) is a dynamic student group dedicated to equipping young minds with cutting-edge digital skills and fostering responsible tech usage. Our members collaborate on exciting tech projects, explore innovative solutions, and develop leadership abilities in a fun and supportive environment.
New Meeting Structure - YLLA at Your Campus!
New Meeting Structure - YLLA at Your Campus!
Starting in the fall of the 2024/25 school year, YLLA will be implementing a new weekly meeting structure. All groups will now meet weekly from 4:00-5:15pm at all 8 comprehensive high school campuses throughout the county. Each YLLA group will host their meetings in person at a designated campus in Santa Cruz county. Hybrid options will be available for each group. Students will have to bring their school issued Chromebooks to participate. If you do not have a Chromebook, please contact Andres Ortiz to set up an alternate arrangement.
YLLA Meeting Locations Coming Soon!
Monthly Meeting Times
Monthly Meeting Times
* Our orientation and first meeting of the 2024-25 school year will be on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 11am-2pm at Seabright State Beach/Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (1305 E Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, CA 95062). At this meeting we will confirm the weekly meeting times and locations for all groups. We will also take part in a beach cleanup facilitated by Save Our Shores!
Weekly Meetings - Tuesdays from 4:00-5:15pm, at all comprehensive high school campuses in Santa Cruz county (hybrid model)
YLLA Monthly Meetings - Generally the third Saturday of the month 11am-2pm with the other YLLA groups (In person only):
September 21st - Seabright State Beach/Museum of Natural History, 1305 E Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, CA
October 19th - Sequoia High Schools, 229 Green Valley Freedom, CA
November 16th - County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St. Santa Cruz, CA
February 1st - Sequoia High Schools, 229 Green Valley Freedom, CA
March 15th - County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St. Santa Cruz, CA
April 19th - Sequoia High Schools, 229 Green Valley Freedom, CA
May 17th - County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St. Santa Cruz, CA
YLLA Calendar
YLLA Calendar
YLLA Beach Day!
YLLA Beach Day!
To celebrate all of the amazing work the students did throughout the year, YLLA held our last monthly gathering of the 2023-24 school year at Capitola Beach.
YLLA Presenting to SC County Board of Education
YLLA Presenting to SC County Board of Education
On May 16, 2024, the students of the various YLLA groups gave a presentation to the board in which they reported all of the amazing work they had done throughout the 2023/24 school year, and shared their plans for the futre.
Self & Community Tile Project
Self & Community Tile Project
High school students from across Santa Cruz County schools have been working together since Fall 2021 exploring what Self and Community means to them using art.
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